Revival Sermon: The Crowning Day is Coming
A Sermon on Isaiah 63:1-6
Scripture
1Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth …
Sermon Description
What does it mean that the Lord has conquered Edom? In this sermon from Isaiah 63:1–6 titled “Revival Sermon: The Crowning Day is Coming,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the prophecy of Isaiah where God has conquered Edom, the enemy of Israel. This prophecy looks forward to the day when God will destroy all the enemies of His people and those that persecute the church. He does this by dying upon the cross for sinners. Jesus Christ is the means of overcoming sin, evil, and the devil. Jesus has come to make sinners righteous by granting them His righteousness and adopting them into God’s family. All this is seen in God overcoming Edom. What does this mean for the Christian’s everyday life? This declaration of what God has done in Jesus Christ is the great and only hope. The truth that God has saved His people by His own hand is at the heart of the gospel because Jesus alone saves. It also tells that all who reject the gospel are enemies of God and under His judgment. The only escape from the wrath of God is through faith in Christ. This sermon is a call for all to believe in Jesus.
Sermon Breakdown
- The prophet Isaiah receives a vision of a glorious figure coming from Edom, indicating a great victory.
- Edom represents the enemies of God and His people.
- The vision is meant to encourage the prophet and God's people in a time of difficulty.
- God gives such encouragements to strengthen His people in prayer and intercession.
- The glorious figure is none other than the Son of God, the King of glory. He is the only hope.
- His glory, majesty, power, and righteousness are a comfort. He speaks with righteousness and will surely fulfill His promises.
- His anger and fury are against the enemies of God, indicating He will defeat them. This is a comfort.
- He has conquered alone. No one was with Him or helped Him. Salvation is through Christ alone.
- He conquered through His death on the cross, defeating sin, death, and the devil.
- He rose from the dead, demonstrating victory over death itself.
- He has revived the church throughout history when she was thought finished. Revival is His work alone.
- He will come again in glory to defeat all enemies and usher in His eternal kingdom.
- It is a privilege to belong to such a Savior and King. There is nothing more terrible than not belonging to Him.
- We should pray for the lost and for revival so they can be saved from His wrath.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Significance of Isaiah 63 for Christians Today According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Isaiah 63:1-6, here are key questions and answers derived from his teaching:
Who does Edom represent in Biblical symbolism according to Lloyd-Jones?
In Biblical symbolism, Edom represents "the powers that are opposed to God and his people." As Lloyd-Jones explains, "Edom comes originally from Esau... the profane, the man who doesn't get the birthright... the worldly outlook, everything that is opposed to God and the things of the spirit." Throughout Scripture, Edom symbolizes the enemies of God's people, including those who opposed Christ, persecuted the early church, and continue to oppose the church today. Lloyd-Jones also notes that Edom represents "the forces that will gather together for the last and the final attempt to defeat God and his Christ and the christian church."
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the primary source of encouragement for Christians in Isaiah 63?
The primary encouragement comes from the vision of Christ as the victorious conqueror. Lloyd-Jones states, "What we have to realize this morning is this, that there are certain things that we have to remind ourselves of constantly." The vision of the one "coming from Edom with dyed garments from Bozra" represents Christ who has conquered the enemies of God. This vision encourages believers to "stop looking at London and its parks... stop looking at communism... stop looking at materialism and science" and instead focus on Christ's glory, power, and certain victory.
How does Lloyd-Jones explain Christ's statement "I have trodden the winepress alone"?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this statement reveals "the great central fact about christian salvation" - that salvation is "entirely and only and exclusively that of the Lord Jesus Christ." He explains: "Nobody has a share in it. There was nobody with him. All that has been done, he has done alone." Lloyd-Jones points to Christ's loneliness throughout his ministry, especially in Gethsemane and at the cross, stressing that believers should not bring "a scrap or a shred or a rag of your filthy righteousness anywhere near him." Salvation is entirely Christ's work.
What does Lloyd-Jones teach about the connection between this passage and revival?
Lloyd-Jones connects Isaiah's vision to revival, explaining that throughout church history, "The church has been dying. She's been finished. Suddenly he just appears and his enemies are scattered. And the church is revived." He defines revival as "times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord" when "the church has another glimpse of the vision. The church sees him. And seeing him can smile and laugh at her foes and all her enemies." He emphasizes that revival is "always his work" - Christ "always treads the wine press alone" though He may use human instruments.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones relate Isaiah's vision to the Second Coming of Christ?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that Isaiah's vision ultimately points to Christ's Second Coming, when "there will be a sight of someone coming on the clouds of heaven." He connects Isaiah 63 with Revelation 19, describing Christ as "the king of kings, the lord of lords, coming for the final battle, the ultimate defeat of all that belongs to hell." Lloyd-Jones asserts that in this future event, Christ "will destroy them by the word of his mouth and by the brightness and the glory of his coming," and "the hell that seems to be let loose upon the earth today is itself going to be destroyed completely."
Revival Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.